kids

TEACHING
kids

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

2006 Annual Report 1

2
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
table
of contents
TEAM 812
I. Team 812 IX. FIRST BUDDY
History VSD
Students SAVY
Mentors Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Demographics SEA
Accomplishments San Diego Public Libraries
Boys and Girls Clubs
II. Impact on Students UCSD Sally Ride Festival
The Preuss School Monarch School

III. Preuss School UCSD X. Team San Diego

Information San Diego FIRST Expo
Statistics San Diego FIRST Kick-Off
San Diego FIRST Lock-In
IV. Construction San Diego FIRST Scrimmage
Programming
Shooter XI. FIRST STEPS
Ball Gathering MIT MITES
Drive Train UCSD
Electrical SDSU
UC COSMOS

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

V. Financial WPI GEMS
Sponsors Temple University PSTP
John Hopkins CTY
VI. Community Outreach NASA NSBRI
Information
Impact XII. Documents
University of California Regents Executive Summary
Chairman’s Submission
VII. FIRST Lego League
FIRST Lego League XIII. Glossary of Acronyms
FLL Competition
XIV. Appendices
VIII. Project RUBI
UCSD Dynamic Learning Center
Reach For Tomorrow

3
 history
2002 - 2006
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

TEAM 812

2002
Season:
Team 812, the Midnight
Mechanics, began in the
fall at the Preuss School UCSD. Team 812 is the
first FIRST team in San Diego. With the support
and assistance of the University of California,
San Diego, The Preuss Foundation, and the
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Team 812
commenced upon its endeavor as a first year
tem in the rigorous FIRST environment.
As a beginning team, the team faced many
challenges along their journey. Without
the aid of a machine shop, the
team had struggled to construct
a robot adequate to withstand the
2002 FIRST Robotics Competition.
Despite the adversaries the team had
encountered during that six-week
building season, Team 812 persevered.
As a result, the team has built a great
rookie robot, “Wah-hee-sah.” Though
the final standings were low in the
competition in the Southern California
Regional in Los Angeles, Team 812
achieved recognition through the All-
Star Rookie Award.

2003 Season:
After being able to
witness the power of FIRST first hand, Team
From top:
812 returned the following season in attempt to
1 - Team members further spread the message of FIRST and recruit
at a family potluck event more teams in the San Diego community. The
2 - Team 812’s hosts the Annual San Diego FLL team had successfully bridged a partnership with
Competition
3 - Team 812 preparing for the Annual San Diego FLL
San Diego Community College; through SDCC,
Competition they began to deliver presentations to local San

4
Diego high school administrators and educators.
The team’s success was accredited by having three
schools registering with FIRST. Team 812 began a
mentorship program with teams 1079, 1125, and
1136.
During this time, Team 812 continued to develop
themselves as engineers and programmers.
Mentors from the University of California, San
Diego became a part of the Midnight Mechanics.
The mentors attended the meetings regularly in
order to teach students the knowledge and the
fundamental engineering principles in which
comprises FIRST. Meanwhile, as the mentors
instill their knowledge, they are able to obtain
fresh input and ideas from the students. At the
Southern California Regional Competition, Team
812 received Daimler-Chrysler Team Spirit Award.
In addition, at the Arizona Regional, the team was
recognized through receiving the Judges Award.
The team had helped others begin their journeys
as a part of FIRST. Team 812 taught the teams the
fundamentals of engineering and was with them
every step of the way.
In partnership with Madison High School FIRST
Robotics, an active member of TSD, Team 812
built a full size playing field. All members of TSD
had access to the playing field in order to practice
and prepare for the regional competition. The
Midnight Mechanics had also hosted the Second
Annual San Diego Robotics Exposition. At the
Robotics Expo, prospecting educators and high
school students in San Diego county would be able
to learn about FIRST and watch a live competition
between participating TSD high schools. The
San Diego Robotics Exposition also solicits and
educates possible sponsors. Our performance at
the Southern California Regional honored us with
the Engineering Inspiration Award. The team
had decided to go on to compete in the National

2004 Season:
In 2004, the Midnight Mechanics
had to hit the floor running. The team was very
FIRST Robotics Competition in Atlanta where
we received the national Engineering Inspiration
Award.
busy. With months of planning, Team 812 had
hosted the first annual FIRST Lego League
Competition at the Preuss School UCSD.
Dozens of FLL Teams from around the
2005 Season:
Upon our return in the fall
of 2004, Team 812
San Diego and Los Angeles area were
invited to participate in the competition.
The team had also registered with FIRST

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

for two FLL teams in order to further
permeate the message of FIRST in our
school. The team had also mentored
other FLL teams in San Diego.

Team 812 founded Team San

Diego. Team San Diego [TSD] is a
coalition of all San Diego Robotics
Teams. The mission of TSD is to
provided assistance, support, and
communication or all FRC teams
in the San Diego area. Team 812 has
demonstrated the fact that they are the leaders of
the San Diego coalition. Team 812 has supplied the Angelina Saldivar presents to FIRST Lego
League students the importance of gracious professionalism
San Diego teams with mentors and partnerships.

5
 Lisa Duong draws up the Ball Gathering design team’s
description of a possible mechanism for the robot
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
had continued to achieve the same success from
the past. The team had created partnerships
with the University of California, San Diego and
CAL[IT]2 to design and implement a college level
engineering course, MAE3, for Preuss School
students. The program was to introduce students
into the field of engineering and assist them in
their development as the future generation of
success.
In addition, Team 812 had successful recruited
addition teams to join Team San Diego. The
coalition had then developed an organized system
in which provided support for novice teams as well
as assistances, such as mentoring, supplies, and
the necessities for robot building. We continued
to host the Annual San Diego Robotics Exposition
and the Annual FIRST Lego League Competition.
Having the national competition experience has
greatly reshaped the team. Each member is more
focused and devoted to obtaining success in the
construction of the robot and instilling the values
of FIRST in the community.
Each member of the team had to organize his
or her own community service project. As a
result, the team had successful piloted over forty
6
community outreach events that distributed
the message of FIRST and made the Midnight
Mechanics a reckoned force in the San Diego
area. Our students transitioned from being
underrepresented to renown. At the Southern
California Regional, the Midnight Mechanics
were recognized for all of their hard ward
and determination. Team 812 was the
Los Angeles Regional Chairman’s Award
winner.
2006 Season:
The 2006 season has been
the busiest season yet for the Midnight
Mechanics. With many of our past
participants transitioning into their college
environment, Team 812 has been replenished
with many participants in their freshmen and
sophomore years of high school. Veterans have
worked diligently to instill their knowledge and
skills into the novices.
Team 812 has given rise to the FIRST BUDY
[Building Understanding in Developing Youth]
System. The BUDY System is a program in which
Team 812 plays in active role in the community
through educational assistance. Our Chairman’s
Group has built partnerships with the Preuss
School UCSD Saturday Enrichment Academy
[SEA], the San Diego Boys and Girls Club, the San
Diego YMCA, the San Diego Beckworth Library,
the San Diego City High School SWAP Program,
and the Monarch School of San Diego to provide
mathematics and science tutoring and mentoring,
technology assistance and support, medical
profession education, and good health services.
In addition, the Midnight Mechanics’ Chairman’s
Group had initiated the FIRST STEPS [Students
Together for Education and Promotion of Science]
Program which has build partnerships with
the MIT MITES Program, the UCSD and UCI
COSMOS Program, the WPI GEMS/WUNDERS
Program, SDSU School of Engineering, and the
NASA NSBRI to educate the community about
scholarship programs which advocate mathematics
and science. Team 812 holds conferences and
events in which promotes the programs. The
conferences are designed to teach students the
process of application, provide Alumni experience,
and instill the message of FIRST.
In addition, to continuing our annual expositions
and FLL competitions, the team has endeavored
to bridge new relationships with local San Diego
businesses and organizations. Team 812 has
partnered with the University of California, San
Diego RUBI Project which is an endeavor in the
interactions between children and robots. The team
has also, once again, continued our partnership
with the Preuss School UCSD, SPAWAR, the
Machine Perception Laboratories at UCSD,
General Motors, the Anngenberg Foundation,
and the San Diego County Fair.
Team 812
has fifteen mentors, the largest turn out in our five
years of participating in FIRST.
Our robot, M5, features a shooting mechanism
and functions as a defensive robot. Though our
standings were not as prominent as we expected,
we were able to gain valuable experiences during
the process.
Team 812 has spent accumulated total of 3,000
hours bringing FIRST to our community.
We established the FIRST BUDDY [Building
Understand and Determination in Developing
Youth] Program to help students in a
disadvantaged position and provide them the
resources to succeed.
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
Team works on robot frame
7
 We spend over 15 hours a week and Saturday
mornings at school tutoring students in hope to
instill an interest in math and science among the
youth. We are involved with the Boys and Girls
Clubs, day care centers, and San Diego Public
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
California, San Diego, the Preuss School UCSD,
General Motors, the Annenberg Foundation,
UCSD Machine Perception Laboratory, SPAWAR,
San Diego County Fair, and Qualcomm.

Libraries. In addition to being a Regional and National

Engineering Inspiration team, Team 812 has also
Our relationships with Students Actively been a Chairman’s Award winning team at the
Volunteering for You and Volunteer San Diego Southern California Regional Competition for the
allow us access to community events. At the past two years.
San Diego We Care Fair, our team presented
engineering and technology through an artistic Coming from low-income backgrounds and
discipline. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center the inner-city of San Diego, we understand the
gives team members volunteer opportunities to be importance of education, as they are the first
involved with interactive science education. generation university bound students in our
families. We were the children who were not
In addition, we implemented FIRST STEPS supposed to go to college. We were not supposed to
[Students Together for Education and Promotion make a difference in our communities. But despite
of Science] to introduce students to a future these dogmas of society, we did.
in math and science. Our partnerships with
University of California COSMOS, Johns
Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITES,
NASA National Space Biomedical Research
Institute, Temple University Physician Scientist
Training Program, and WPI GEMS makes FIRST
STEPS is the first successful scholarship and
internship advocacy program initiated by any
FIRST team.

The University of California, San Diego Machine

Perception Laboratory solicited Team 812 as a part
of their Robot Using Bayesian Inference [RUBI]
Program. The RUBI Program studies artificial
intelligence through robot-human interaction.
Through RUBI, we will become involved with the
research of cognitive sciences at the future UCSD
Dynamic Learning Center, an institute funded
by the National Science Foundation. Through
their Reach for Tomorrow Program, we will assist
in the matriculation of students into four-year
universities.

Our efforts to change the community and culture

of America have been recognized by community
leaders and companies such as the University of

8
making
history
STUDENT ’S VIEW: CHRISTINA NGUYEN

I
was on my way to becoming a lawyer until I
collided into FIRST Robotics. I was the timid,
introverted girl that never spoke up in class,
sitting in the back corner of the classroom, and
waited for things to come to me. I thought it would
not be too time-consuming, did give out good
scholarship money for the future, and would be a
nice addition to my list of extracurricular activities.
I was not expecting any dramatic life changes. I
was very wrong.

I found I could not tear myself away from our

FIRST Robotics team, and programmed the robot
in the wee hours of the morning. FIRST is worth
all those hours that I spent, because not only
did I learn programming, but to actually value
gracious professionalism, love science and math,
and have a tremendous amount of fun. Upon
joining the FIRST Robotics team at my school, I
became entranced with the world of innovation
and progress, and started researching on the new,

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

creative technologies today.

That soft-spoken girl is now gone. I am before

you a mature, college-bound, participant in
college-preparatory class discussions. I actively
search for opportunities, with a determination to
excel. Constantly looking for connections with
my extracurricular activities, I am no longer
complacent with what I learn in class, and learned
to apply everything and anything in “real life”
scenarios, while never too shy or cautious to ask
Christina Nguyen questions – implemented by FIRST. I love learning,
and my involvement in robotics forced me to let
go of my hesitation. FIRST changed me; I became

9
 outgoing, and loved talking to other people about
FIRST- on the airplane, the elevator, conferences,
and other club meetings. I also learned to balance
my time, become more organized, and as a result,
my grades and confidence have gone up. Now less
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
despite my circumstances. No one expected that
I, a female Preuss School UCSD student, would
have done research, help program four robots,
and help my community before my high school
graduation. Preuss FIRST Robotics has changed

passive in class, I try to inspire youths around me, these conceptions. My family now accepts that I
and smile at the “competitors’” victories. am more than just a helpless girl.

I remember I rolled my eyes at the bulletin notice I have become a complete FIRST enthusiast, and
in eighth grade about FIRST Robotics, thinking almost as importantly, a science “geek.” I still value
science was not for me, that I was surely going the humanities, and love keeping up with current
to be in humanities. I had been at The Preuss events, but I have since realized science fits me – I
School UCSD since sixth grade, in 1999, its blame it all on Team 812.
groundbreaking first year, and will be part of the
first class that has been through its entire seven
years. My friends, whom I have known for those
seven years, marveled at how much I have changed
by FIRST. This fall, I am planning to major in
biochemistry or biomedical engineering. Over the
past summer, I interned at a biochemical research
laboratory, because I was extremely interested in
a particular protein’s link to neurodegenerative
diseases. I had to search out this particular
internship, actually take the initiative to read
countless articles and find principal investigators’
contact information. The Midnight Mechanics
have made this happen; they have taught me to
never be cautious of chasing my dreams of doing
research. Currently, I am interning at the Cal-[IT]2
as a programmer to develop curriculum for a class
at UCSD. I am also active in many community
service activities, and co-founded a new one for
organ and tissue donation while being the primary
grant-writer.

FIRST Robotics has been the catalyst in redirecting

my career goals. I have always wanted to be
influential to the younger generation. Now, I do
not only want to be a role model, but be influential
as to how people perceived math and science. As a
girl, people, especially those in my family, have had
a hard time accepting the fact that I was interested
in pursuing a profession in math and science.
In addition, as a Preuss School UCSD student-
a low-income, first-generation college-bound
student- I rose above the expectations of society

10
inspiring
inspiration
MENTOR’S VIEW : GEORGE CHEN
F
IRST founder Dean Kamen set out to start
FIRST “...to create a world where science and
technology are celebrated....where young
people dream of becoming science and technology
heroes....” Has this dream been accomplished?
Perhaps to some degree. Students are starting to see
the opportunities in science and technology; sports
stars and Hollywood celebrities are no longer role
models (nor should they ever have been), but the
mentors and engineers they work with in robotics
have taken the charge.

When I got involved in FIRST, I told myself that

I would continue participating as long as
it was fun. Preuss Robotics has shown me
that I will be staying in FIRST for a long,
long time. This small charter school for low-
income students generates some of the most
motivated students I have ever known. In my
experience as a mentor throughout Southern
California, I know how it is to have a small

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

team, to have a team of unmotivated students, to
have a team that does not embody the true spirit
of FIRST. But Midnight Mechanics are different.
They have a certain energy within them that
inspires mentors like myself to return year after
year and help out. A relatively large team of sixty
or so students, no student is ever found idling, no
student ever shown to have discipline problems.
Every student displays an enthusiasm for robotics
that keeps me coming back, day after day to help.

This program is an amazing success; its alumni

1 - Rob Mainieri & George Chen are a testament to this; as they have all gotten into
2 - Mentoring programming team four year universities, when these students may not
3 - Teacher Dan Rupert with the team robot
have had this opportunity previously. As a college

11
 student, I enjoy sharing my experiences with these
students, taking their questions, and providing a
personal perspective to higher education. Though
it’s all things that students have heard before, being
a student about their age who has gone through the
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
that year at Los Angeles Regionals, several of their
students and one of their mentors recognized me
and thanked me for inspiring them to be a model
team. Inspiring? At the time, it was a foreign
concept to me; just a high school student, to have

process allows me to connect with students. These the ability to truly inspire a team of students that
kids become more than students, they become he/she had never met.
friends.
Being a mentor for FIRST is not
I could have easily left FIRST easy street. It requires dedication,
after high school. I patience, and caring. It requires
was set on being a bond of trust be formed
a science major between students and mentors.
throughout high Every year during build
school; I didn’t need season I question why I
FIRST to inspire me am here, why I put myself
to follow math and through so many sleepless
science. Why then, nights to merely volunteer.
did I return in college I don’t get any recognition
to another FIRST team? from this; I don’t earn
Because I believe in 15 minutes of fame.
mentorship. When my Then I look at my
students tell me about students, my friends,
their backgrounds; how and realize why it’s
they wanted to be a lawyer, all worthwhile. The
how they were unsure about knowledge that
what to do with their lives, these students have
and how FIRST has given them excelled beyond
guidance. They may not want to what was expected of them.
go into engineering; but FIRST They weren’t supposed to go to college.
has shown me that there is so much They weren’t supposed to make a difference. But
more that they can get out of the program. they have. And I am honored to have been part of
When I see how students have become inspired that journey.
by the program, it makes me work harder. It is my
personal goal to inspire students to go beyond their
means, to see what they can accomplish outside
a normal academic curriculum. This is why I stay
with FIRST.

I teach at the Southern California Regional

Robotics Forum Workshops every year at Cal State
Northridge, teaching a variety of topics, from Vex
Robotics to Chairman’s Award, Website design to
leadership. Two years ago, a rookie team attended Mentor George Chen with student Christina Nguyen at the
one of my workshops. I didn’t think much of it, Team San Diego Pre-Ship Pickup Game
they were just another team who showed up. But

12
 team
demographics
O U R S TAT I S T I C S
T School Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
eam 812 believes that academic
achievement is the key to a successful
future. The Preuss FIRST Robotics
team, along with the Preuss School, endeavors
to instill math, science, and technology among
the youth. Our main target is our peers at the
Preuss School. Over the past six years, the Preuss
FIRST Robotics team has worked to initiate peer
Preuss School UCSD San Diego County
mentorship programs at Preuss in order to assist
struggling students. a testimony of our success if
Asian Latino
seeing that our peers score, on average, higher on
White Filipino
the California High School Exit Exam than the
African American Pacific Islander
entire San Diego School District and the state of
California.
California High School Exit Exam Pass
PREUSS CLASS OF 2004 Rate (Out of one sitting)
INTENT TO REGISTER* 20% 100
100
93
*Out of 100% Acceptance rate
University of California 43.6% Statewide
80
20% San Diego County
Community Colleges 65 66 Preuss School
63 63
California State University 16.4% 60

Private Colleges

T
40

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

he robotics team is a mix of students from
every grade level. The involvement from 20

all students is high and very active. Each

0
student is different and brings something new and ENGLISH MATH
interesting to the table. With every grade level
represented, the learning levels are different and
Preuss AP Exams Taken, by Subject
upperclassmen are able to mentor and assist the US History
lowerclassmen. In addition, the team is composed Spanish Lit
of an ethically diverse student body. With students
Spanish Lang
representing various nations from around the
world, the cultural experience for many students European His
is lafe changing. Through the club, students are English Lang
able to learn more about customs and traditions of Art History
other cultures while gaining first-hand experience
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
in the math and science arena.
Class of 2002-2003

13
 our
accomplishments
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
OUR RECOGNITION
“A
t the 2004 FIRST National
Championships, I feel out of my
seat when I heard Woodie Flowers
announced, ‘... And the National Engineering
Inspiration Award goes to the Preuss School
UCSD!’ It was an honor for FIRST to recognize our
dedication to spreading the message of FIRST. It
was exciting because this award was traditionally
given to a national Chairman’s Award winner.”
- Christopher Khavarian
Testimonies of Success:
2002 - All Star Rookie Award
@ Southern California Regional
2003 - Daimler-Chrysler Team Spirit Award
@ Southern California Regional
2003 - Judges Award
@ Arizona Regional
2004 - Engineering Inspiration Award
@ Southern California Regional
2004 - Engineering Inspiration Award
@ National Championship in Atlanta
2005 - Chairman’s Award
@ Southern California Regional
2006- Chairman’s Award
@ Southern California Regional
14
J
udge’s Statement:
[2005 at Southern California Regional]
“This team has dedicated thousands of hours to
serving its community and surrounding area. This
includes mentoring multiple successful FIRST
teams, guiding each from the start, staying with
them until they develop into sustaining teams
on their own. They have supported Lego League
teams ever since the teams first year of operation
and seems tirless in their efforst to reach out to
younger kids. With team members from member
demographic groups, this team values and
promises diversity and involvment in science and
techonology, independent of background. Their
motivation, contagious in every member of this
team, shows that they have taken every principle
of FIRST to their hearts, and can demonstrate
the results in clear and personal ways. This team
continues to grow from their homebase and
beyond. Even their minor setbacks only encourages
them further. Outreach begans at home, but seems
to have no end for them. Each member of this may
have BEEN the child who was not supposed to go
to college, but today, this is THEIR story.”
impact
on students
UC SAN DIEGO

T
he major new addition to the
Preuss School UCSD is the FIRST
Robotics class, offered to high school
students. This class is primarily for students
learning project management skills. As a
student-run club, we plan and organize
events such as the San Diego Lego
Challenge, and coordinate with the Team
San Diego to put on our three major
events. We work on public relations,
promotional materials, multimedia,
community outreach, and contacting
key individuals in our community as
part of our curriculum. The emphasis
on this class is more on working on
leadership and management skills that is useful
and important for the future of The Preuss
School students. Enrollment in this class is
not only limited to Team 812 members; by
doing so, this class can affect more than its
usual base of Midnight Mechanics members.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

1 - Mentors from MPLab help the programming team
2 - Students take a break from working
For high school students wanting to be
involved with engineering, we also offer the
Introduction to Engineering and Principles
of Engineering classes. As a small school,
it is difficult to implement many elective
classes; to offer to have two engineering classes
demonstrates our large impact on curriculum
at The Preuss School UCSD, as these were
introduced relatively recently. The engineering
classes immerse the students in hands-on, project-
based, learning that FIRST Robotics has inspired.
These classes use Autodesk Inventor to transform
their innovative ideas into real products. Many of

15
 these design projects actually become products that
are made by the students, to provide an insight into
their ideas and goals.
As a six through twelve grade institution, we also
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
Many are also involved with other science-related
activities on and out of campus. The students
at The Preuss School UCSD have undoubtedly
been transformed into able-minded individuals;
authorities to change how others perceive math

extend our influences into the middle school. We and science.

have instated FIRST Lego League teams, named
the Mini Mechanics, whom we mentor. We also
host the San Diego Lego Challenge which the
Mini Mechanics compete in. The middle school
offers an engineering course to expose middle
school students to apply math and science, as a
result of our presence and inspiration to younger
students. There is also the option of BotBall for
the older middle school students not in FLL. We
also introduce the BEWiSE [Better Education for
Women in Science and Engineering] program to
female students in these early years. As a result,
many of our middle school students are also Sally
Ride Festival participants and later, FIRST Robotics
members and engineers.

Our efforts school-wide include tutoring after

school for all levels of math, tutoring for Saturday
Enrichment Academy in math and science. Since
the members in FIRST are academically successful,
we are sought-after tutors for mathematics
– ranging from Calculus to Algebra and Geometry.
Our FIRST STEPS program also extends to The
Preuss School UCSD. Since our school is focused
on success at attending and doing well at four-year
universities, the FIRST STEPS program is well
integrated in the community of The Preuss School
UCSD.

The result of these programs is more students

involved at The Preuss School UCSD with
mathematics-based activities. Team 812 is integral
to have these programs implemented; no science
and math existed prior to its existence. Since
its conception, these changes have dramatically
affected The Preuss School UCSD and its students.
Along with influencing career-determining
decisions, the encouragement and family
atmosphere created by the robotics team has lead
to students overcoming their personal obstacles.

16
preuss
school
UC SAN DIEGO

P
reuss School was established on the
UCSD campus in Fall 1999. Preuss is
chartered under San Diego Unified
School District. Its mission is to provide an
intensive college preparatory curriculum
to low-income student populations and to
improve educational practices in grades 6-
12. If these goals are realized, the school will
matriculate students who are competitively
eligible to enter the University of California
or other selective institutions of higher
education. The School opened with 150
students in grades 6 – 8, and now is fully
enrolled with 767 students in grades 6 – 12.

Preuss 2004/05 demographics are: 59.5%

Hispanic, 12.9% African American, 21.7% Asian,
6% White.

Preuss students are selected through a process

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

of application and lottery. Eligibility is based on:
student is from a low-income family [per Federal
school lunch criteria]; student has no parent or
guardian who has graduated from a 4-year college
or university; student has the academic potential
and motivation to benefit from an intensive college
preparatory program.

Preuss School is housed in a $14 million dollar

1 - Team
Meeting
2 - FLL Tournament at Preuss School
3 - Students CAD in the computer lab
facility on the UCSD campus. One hundred
percent of the design and construction funds
came from community donors.
EDUCATIONAL MODEL
UCSD research into educational practices looks

17
 at three critical areas: The school year [198 days
vs. 180 traditionally], school day [396 minutes per
day vs. an average of 360] and smaller class size in
all grades [25 vs. 34 district-wide]. All three are
mainstays of the Preuss program; our students log
74,669 instructional minutes each year compared
to the State requirement of 64,800.
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
disadvantaged students.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
All Preuss students are involved in a serious
college going culture as evidenced by taking the
most challenging classes that complete the A-G
requirements for entrance into the University of

California or any prestigious 4 year college or

The Preuss educational program is made up of two university. The following chart indicates that Preuss
components:[1] the quality of our student learning students are fulfilling the mission of closing the
activities, and [2] the teaching strategies to support achievement gap in San Diego County by exposing
students’ learning. Work centers on research, all of our low-income students to this challenging
application, and reflection on the best practices for environment:
teaching.
Preuss San Diego Unified California
From its inception, the Preuss model included 100% 38.5% 35.6%
the goal of disseminating to the K-12 community
what has worked well in improving students’ In 2003 Preuss Students outperformed all high
performance in curriculum implementation schools in San Diego County on the High School
[what students learn], instructional improvement Exit exam in Language Arts. Of the students in the
[how teachers teach], and staff development class of 2006 98% passed the language section and
[teaching disadvantaged students]. The school 97% passed the math section.
has recently been awarded a $200,000
Dissemination Grant from
the State. The school will
disseminate to the K-12
community best practices in
three interdependent areas
of its educational program:
[1] how the structure
of the school supports
students’ learning; [2]
staff development
activities; and [3]
research strategies
that most effectively
serve disadvantaged
students. More
specifically, this
funding will enable
the propagation of
effective teaching
strategies; literacy approaches;
lessons aligned to standards; methods of
interaction among teachers, students, parents,
Robotics supplies and tools
and the university; and, how assessment informs
our work in curriculum and instruction for

18
Preuss Students have an overall attendance record
of 98% which is higher than any middle or high
school in the San Diego Unified School District
[District average attendance is approximately 93%].

The Preuss School has a high percentage of

Advanced Placement [AP] scholars, and many
more have achieved AP status – every student from
grades 10-12 has completed at least one AP class.

The Preuss School’s recent academic performance

index score of 845 places it as a top scoring high
school in San Diego County.

In May 2003, 596 AP tests were administered to

284 students. Of those students 57% of the 11th
graders passed with a score of three or better, and
47% of the 10th graders passed with a score of
three or better and 32% of the 12th graders passed
with a score of three or better.

Preuss is considered a high performing school on

the State’s Academic Performance Index [API] [i.e.,
over the last 5 years Preuss has averaged 826 out of
a possible 1000 points]. Preuss compares favorably
to other San Diego Unified School District high
performing middle and high schools. Additionally,
Preuss’ success can be seen in the increasing
collaboration among school stakeholder groups
in supporting and delivering the educational
program, and in the student support systems.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

19
 midnight
mechanics blog
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

PROGRAMMING

T
he Programming group is one
of the, if not the most important
group in construction. Without
the program code, there would be no
operating robot.

January 17, 2006:

The Programming group defined its
goals for today: assemble the camera,
compile and test code, modify, and
update onto SVN [a repository]. We
downloaded all the default code
and necessary programs, compiled,
and got a power source for the
microcontroller. Some verified that
the camera assembly was correct.
We ran into trouble with the USB-serial
converters needed to upload code. Since
the drivers would not install properly, we
finished for the day. The Machine Perception
Laboratory engineers, who help us a lot, will
bring another USB-serial converter tomorrow.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to load code and start
modifying some of it. We hope to have all the
necessary programs (MPLAB, C18, and IFI
Loader) onto SVN for all team members to have at
their disposal. Tomorrow, we should organize all
the codes from last year, and start calibrating and
analyzing the camera code.

Over the course of the next month, the

Programming group went from a camera whcih
sensed sunlight, to one that tracked the green light
used in competition.
Programming team at work

20
February 16th, 2006:
Progress today! We have the pan and tilt servos
working independently, but not together. We also
programmed this year’s robot, but had problems
because we want two Robot Controllers to work
with; the one on the 2006 robot and the one on our
testing 2005 robot. However, there were problems
in loading code into last year’s microcontroller.
We also moved code into a different function to be
called from autonomous mode. We now have two
working dongles, thankfully. Testing has been a
lot easier, and we’re getting closer to optimal gain
constants and such. It’s getting really close to ship
date, and we’re more behind than we want to. At
least we’re driving!

We eventually had the camera and drive train

responding very well, but the time to test on the
robot was not enough to work reliably on the 2006
robot. What we had done during the building
season was to develop code and tested through last
season’s robot, because in the past, the software
team did not have enough time to develop code
and test. The Programming group has progressed
significantly due to the Machine Perception
Laboratory (MPLAB)’s mentorship. With only
one Programming veteran on the team, who was
graduating this year, the main objective was to
get all of the code written, and to have the next
generation of programmers knowledgeable and
ready. Growth could only happen with learning

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

and teaching, through us, the students.

21
 midnight
mechanics blog
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

SHOOTER

T
he Shooter Group has been among
the most crucial aspects to the
2006 competition. Our shooter is
the main source for scoring points, as the
objective of the game is “to shoot balls into
a hoop.”

The Shooter Group began their six week

building season on:

January 17, 2006:

Mr. Rupert purchased a wheel that
is a little bit over 14 inches but we
are planning to shave it down to be
exactly 14 inches. The shooter group
figured out the RPM for the wheel, by
doing mathematical conversions. We
then looked at the Motor Performance
to fine the best way to run the actual
shooter. We are currently looking at
different timing belts and pulleys for the
shooter. Mr. Rupert has some connections
that would help us to create our
magnificent shooter. Tomorrow we hope to
finish finding the timings belt that we need
and place an order on it as soon as possible.

Over the course of six weeks, the Shooter

Group has made outstanding progress:

February 9, 2006:
Paul, Gary, Ximena, and Lisa finished drilling
the holes on the pulley pieces. Using the drill
press was very difficult because we were not
Shooter team at work getting enough torque to drill into the pieces of the

22
aluminum, with the 3/4 bit. Mr. Rupert increased
the torque for us, making it easier for us to
accomplish our task. Today, we had 6 of the 8 CIM
motor mounts, however, we soon realized that the
inner diameter is slightly bigger then we expected.
So Scott jumped onto the mill and shaved down
the edges of 4 of the 8 mounts. Scott also worked
on the chain to drive the guide of the shooter.
Tomorrow we hope to mount the pulley pieces
onto the wheel, and we also would like to mount
the CIM motors.
The shooting team eventually mounted the CIM
motors, and got it working by the Pick-Up Game
that Saturday. The whole mechanism involves
not only building with tools and machines, but
calculating, strategizing, and working with other
teams.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

Student Paul Ngyuen grinds down the shooter wheel

23
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mechanics blog
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

B A L L G AT H E R I N G

T
he Ball Gathering group was introduced
to Team 812 because of the ball-gathering
aspect of the 2006 competition. They have
shown to be exemplary and outstanding.

January 17, 2006:

Student lead Brigitte Rubidoux and teacher Dan Rupert with
ball collecting device.
Today we were able to figure out what type of
system the PVC rollers would use in order to move
and transport the 7” ball up the gathering system.
The decided system would be a chain system
that would turn the rollers. The specifications
were made as we searched online and through
catalogues to find suitable parts. The main parts
we researched were the sprockets and the chains
that would be used. Using the useful internet
catalogue for McMaster Carr Nylon Sprockets
and Acetyl Chains were found. By using these
plastic parts it would minimize the overall weight
of the ball gathering mechanism and the robot in
general. Our goal was met today by figuring out
how we would mount the rollers onto a frame
stably while not interfering with the rotation
of the PVC rollers and making sure that the
PVC rollers would not move left to right while
transporting the balls upwards. The solution
was to attach a PVC cap onto the ends of the
PVC rollers, then drilling a smaller hole into
that cap to insert a rod through the PVC roller
and the aluminum frames on each side. Attached
to the cap would also be our nylon sprockets
which would mobilize our PVC by the acetyl chain
system. Our goal for next meeting is to draw out
the specifications and hopefully start ordering
our needed parts. Ball gatherer is a work in great
progress!

24
 robot. The general idea was interesting and seemed
As we transitioned over the course of the next few like it would work, but did not execute as perfectly
weeks later, the Ball Gathering group documented: as wanted, and scrapped the mechanism. The ball
gathering team moved onto a net that would catch
February 6, 2006: the balls from a human shooter, which would
Today after school we were able to accomplish actually be more efficient.
a lot, but it was also a day of problems. We were
able to attach all of the rollers onto the frame,
including finding the right amount of space we
needed to keep the three vital PVC rollers from
sliding horizontally. Thien cut the chain length and
we were going to put the chain on, until we found
a problem. One of the back supports is in the way
of letting the roller spin freely, so we cut that off
and Thien and Jose created holes on the back of the
frame. With a new bar, they created a U-Bracket;
this allows the PVC roller to move freely without
the support in the way. Also on one of the bottom
supports, the chain would have to run over it and
this is a problem. The right angle was inhibiting
the chain from running smoothly, so Melanie and
I grinded the area down and fixed the problem.
We also drilled a 3/8 hole on the side of the
frame where the motor sprocket
was. We did this because, before
we had a 1/4 hole but it was too
small for the sprocket, whose
diameter was 3/8. Once we had
everything in place, we put on
the chain. Everything seemed
to be working perfectly...

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

until we encountered another
problem. The chain would
hit the PVC cap and cause it
to elevate, thus causing the
chain to jump. All we have
to do is file the caps down
so the chains don’t touch
it. Next time we will file
down the PVC caps and
also work on a design for
a motor mount.

Even though the ball gathering was very calculated

and worked on every single problem, the ball Student and mentor working on robot
gathering mechanism ended up not going on the

25
 midnight
mechanics blog
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

DRIVE TRAIN

T
he Drive
Train group is
essential to the
success of our robot.
They are in charge of
the motor and chasis
aspect of our robot.

They began their

documentation on:

January 12, 2006:

As the meeting
started, Mr. Rupert
gave a presentation
on the four main
group[Drive Train,
Ball Gathering,
Ball Shooting, and
Programming]. Then the club broke into
those groups. Drive train met outside
and our lovely tutor Scott went over the
design of our “ideal” Robot. He talked
about this year’s robot having 6 wheels
instead of 4 and explained why. Soon
after, Thien gathered the group and headed
for the shed to look at last years Robot.
Measurements were then taken of the gears,
gear ratio, and sprockets. We also discussed
the idea of torque or speed for our robot.

About a month later, the Drive Train has

progressed and commented on:
1 - Paul Nguyen and Antoinette Brou at work
2 - Paul Nguyen and mentor Neal Bloom February 9, 2006:

26
Today in Drive Train, of the Drive Train
we finished the is going through
bumper. As there is kit of parts to see
not much for Drive most promising
Train to do anymore, Drive Train,
we’ve dispersed out learning about
into other groups characteristics of all
to help them. We’ve motors, designing,
been helping ball building, and testing
gatherer a lot in the gearboxes if needed,
last two days, and and deciding on
we’ll be doing that type of wheels or
tomorrow too. treads. Drive Train
A finished Drive communicates with
Train in less than a all of the teams
month has been a more often, because
goal of our team. This has progressed from having it has more obligations to think about of space
a working Drive Train moments before shipping constraints and where to put all the components.
last year, and no working robot from two and three Through the PEMP, the Drive Train can work
years ago. The primary responsibilities knowing that the components would succeed.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

27
 midnight
mechanics blog
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

ELECTRICAL

L
ike a program code, without electricity, faced challenges both within and outside of FIRST
the robot would not function. That is the Robotics:
element which makes the Electrical group
one of the most essential on the contruction team. January 31, 2006:
Thuy, our Electrical Leader cannot come to
January 17, 2006: Robotics anymore, so the lead position has been
The Electrical group’s goal for today was to read shifted to me, Summer. This means we’re one man
over the schematics of the power distribution given down. Today we placed a lot of the
by FIRST and to start building a prototype of components on the electrical board,
the electrical board so the mechanical but programming needed half the
team can test motors board with the speed controllers,
for the robot. We so we couldn’t wire anything
printed out the because they had half of our
schematics, read board! At the next meeting
it over to track we plan on wiring all or most
how much would of the components, and
be needed to test out make sure that our design
a motor, and started stays compatible with the
checking all the electrical Shooter and Drive Train
parts. Then, programming groups, because they tend
asked us to wire the 12V to change their minds
battery to the main control without telling anyone
board [Robot Controller] else.
so they could test out the
camera, and we did. After There were many
that, we started mounting the obstacles thrown at the electrical
components for the prototype team this year. All of the electrical
on a piece of plywood. We were members were rookies, and the lead had some
finished for the day. Tomorrow, we are top-priority family problems. Thus, there was less
hoping to finish mounting all the parts needed leadership, but all of the members had learned a lot
onto the board and wire it so that mechanical can from Electrical this year. Despite all this, the robot
start testing their motors and choose the right ones works, and the Electrical group came together to
to use on the robot. make an efficient electrical system.
Student electrical lead Thuy Ly
Over the six week period, the Electrical group

28
 our
sponsors
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
T
eam 812 is supported by community
members and leaders. We inspire the art
of engineering in others and a model of a
successful engineering corporation.
UCSD
Nestled along the Pacific Ocean on 1,200 acres of
coastal woodland, UCSD is a powerful magnet for
those seeking a fresh, next-generation approach
to education and research. Since its founding over
four decades ago, UCSD -- one of the ten campuses
in the world-renowned University of California
system -- has rapidly achieved the status as one
of the top institutions in the nation for higher
education and research. UCSD’s interdisciplinary
ethos and tradition of innovation and risk-taking,
underlie its research strength and ability to recruit
top scholars and students.
The Preuss School UCSD
Preuss School was established on the UCSD
campus in Fall 1999. Preuss is chartered under
San Diego Unified School District. Its mission
is to provide an intensive college preparatory
curriculum to low-income student populations
and to improve educational practices in grades 6
through 12. If these goals are realized, the school
will matriculate students who are competitively
eligible to enter the University of California or
other selective institutions of higher education.
The School opened with 150 students in grades
6 through 8, and now is fully enrolled with 767
students in grades 6 through 12.
SPAWAR
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San
Diego [SSC San Diego] is the U.S. Navy’s research,
development, test and evaluation, engineering and
fleet support center for command, control and
communication systems and ocean surveillance.
SSC San Diego provides information resources to
support the joint warfighter in mission execution
and force protection.
General Motors
General Motors Corp., the world’s largest
automaker, has been the global industry sales
leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today
employs about 325,000 people around the world.
It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries
and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004,
GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally,
up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the
company’s history. GM’s global headquarters are at
the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit.
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
The Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is the successor
corporation to the Annenberg School at Radnor,
Pennsylvania established in 1958 by Walter H.
Annenberg. It exists to advance the public well-
being through improved communication. As
the principal means of achieving its goal, the
Foundation encourages the development of more
effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.
Ambassador Annenberg has observed that the
transmission of information is a factor in every
human advancement or reversal. In an age of fiber
optic cables and satellites, events are witnessed
29
 around the world even as they take place and the
very telling of the tale affects the pace and nature of
change.
But the revolution wrought by communications
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
began more than five centuries ago. The swift and
cheap dissemination of information first made
possible by Gutenberg’s invention of movable type
has given rise to new political, social, and cultural
forms that have enhanced life for millions of
people.
While the modern computer
and broadcast technology are
important communications
tools, they are only amplifiers
and extenders of the visual
image, written word, and human
voice. The Foundation’s focus is
not on chips and wires but rather
on education, particularly public
school restructuring and reform in
the United States. The Foundation
is open to collaboration with other
philanthropic institutions.
UCSD Machine Perception
Laboratory
The goal of the Machine Perception Laboratory
[MPLab] is to gain insights into how the brain
works by developing embodied systems that
solve problems similar to those encountered by
the brain. We focus on systems that perceive
and interact with humans in real time using
natural communication channels [e.g., visual,
auditory, and tactile information]. To this effect
we are developing perceptual primitives to detect
and track human faces and to recognize facial
expressions. We are also developing probabilistic
models for integrating multiple sensory modalities,
and actions. Developing such systems requires
a multidisciplinary approach that combines
mathematical modeling, machine learning
techniques, computational modeling of brain
function, and behavioral experiments. Applications
include personal robots, automatic tutoring
30
systems, and automatic assessment of affective
disorders.
San Diego County Fair
In 1880, a group of San Diegans organized an
agricultural fair to bring county farmers together
to share ideas, see who had the best citrus fruit,
who baked the best pie, and who had the fastest
horse. After that first fair, the county fair was held
annually with a few exceptions in various county
locations until 1936, when it moved to
its present Del Mar home.
Qualcomm
QUALCOMM’s active philanthropy
and volunteerism programs
are essential to our corporate
commitment to creating
meaningful community
relationships. QUALCOMM’s
giving and volunteerism
programs are based on respect
for community organizations
and their constituencies,
cooperative leadership
development and philanthropic creativity.
QUALCOMM’s corporate volunteerism program,
QUALCOMM Cares, was developed to encourage
employee involvement in the community and
is our way of connecting our diverse employee
base to local volunteer opportunities. From walk-
a-thons to holiday drives, QUALCOMM Cares
creates many opportunities for its employees,
friends and families to participate in charitable
events. Serving a wide range of needs, our
employees are helping people with disabilities,
improving the environment, feeding and
clothing the homeless, and caring for animals.
QUALCOMM Cares organizes volunteer team
building projects as special opportunities for
internal departments to foster teamwork and
celebrate accomplishments, while contributing to
the improvement of the San Diego community.
Computer Science building at UCSD
community
outreach
KIDS TEACHING KIDS
T
eam 812 has initiated several programs in
order to instill an interest in engineering in
the youth. This year, Team 812 reached out
to communities beyond the San Diego community.
Trough the FIRST BUDDY program, the Midnight
Mechanics reached out to neighborhood Los
Angeles, Riverside, Imperial, and Orange counties.
Our team brought concepts of math, science, and
engineering to our communities by mentoring two
FIRST Lego League teams at the Preuss School
UCSD. In addition, we coordinated the second
informal Annual San Diego FIRST Lego League
Competition. Other programs launched by FIRST
included establishing engineering education with
the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Saturday
Enrichment Academy, peer mentorship at San
Diego Public Libraries, local Boys and Girls Clubs,
the Monarch School, and communities events,
such as the UCSD Sally Ride Festival. In addition,
we partnered with Student Actively Volunteering
into institutes of higher learning.
In addition to our attempts to reach out into our
communities, Team 812 established the FIRST
STEPS program which builds partnerships with
MIT MITES, UCSD, SDSU, UC COSMOS, Temple
University Physician Scientist Training Program,
John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, WPI
Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science, and
NASA National Science Biomedical Research
Institute to motivate children to pursue professions
in math and science.
Preuss Robotics believes that it is their duty to
spread the message of FIRST. The personal growths
they have seen within themselves motivate them to
reach out to others. This can be seen through our
three thousand hours of community service and
outreach programs. Each year, Team 812 endeavor
to innovatively integrate math, science, and
engineering into our communities. This year, Team

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

for You and Volunteer San Diego to further our 812 has been revolutionary in launching our mass
endeavors. science outreach projects targeted towards students
in our underserved communities.
We have also worked with the University of
California, San Diego Machine Perception
Laboratory [MPLab] as the outreach portion of
their institute. Our involvement with the MPLab
includes a partnership with Project RUBI [Robot
Using Bayesian Inference] which studies artificial
intelligence through robot to human interactions.
In addition, Project RUBI solicited our team to
take part in their Reach for Tomorrow Program
[RTP] and the future UCSD Dynamic Learning
Center [DLC] which works to matriculate students

31
 community
outreach
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

UC REGENTS
T
he University of California Regents govern
the largest public unversity system in the
world. They oversee the operations of over
nine of the top institutes of higher education,
including: University of California, Berkeley,
University of California, Los Angeles, and
University of California, San Diego.

“On behalf of the Regents of the University of

California, we commend you for your hard work
and accomplishments. Your commitment to
the community is remarkable and can be seen
throughout the state. We wish you great luck at
competitions and know that all of the UC campuses
are rooting for you.”
-Regent Gerald Parsky
Chairman of the Board

“I have seen the Preuss School Robotics Team

grow since its very inception. They have strived
for excellence and are excelling past anyone’s
imagination. The impact that they have had on the
community is immense and can be seen through
anything that they do. This group of motivated
young adults gives me confidence in what the
future brings.”
-Regent Peter Preuss.

“The work that you have done in such a short

amount of time amazes me. You are a testament t
the success of the Preuss School. Congratulations
on your achievements.”
-President Robert Dynes
President of the University of California
Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego

32
 FIRST
lego league
FLL MENTORSHIP

F
or the past four years, members
from Team 812 mentored sixth,
seventh, and eight grade students
participating in the FIRST Lego League
[FLL] program at The Preuss School
UCSD. In the 2005 season, Team 812
participants mentored two FLL teams
independently, without adult support,
acting as engineering mentors in the
FIRST Robotics program.

The game was “Ocean Odyssey,” for

2006, which focused on the working
conditions of the professions that
involve water. This was a connection
to the global news of the Tsunami in
India. The team assignment was to pick
up victims and lost possessions in the sea.
Not only did the FLL members learn how
to build Lego robots, but they also learn

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

about the geographical and marine biological
concepts of the ocean and its conditions. They
demonstrated understanding of these concepts
by creating their own PowerPoint presentation
and presenting that presentation to a panel of
judges.

Through these experiences, everyone gained a

deeper appreciation for the mission of the FLL
competition. Team 812 members were able to
instigate excitement about the core ideals of FIRST.
They also proudly watched the matriculation of
the next generation of scientists and engineers.
San Diego FLL Tournamment In doing so, team members were motivated to set
higher standards for the next generation by being

33
 able to surpass the expectations established for
them today.
Such young individuals inspired by FIRST already,
in turn, inspire Team 812 members. “Working
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
through the program. With this immersion into
the FIRST Robotics world, it is not surprising
to see self-evaluations and early introspective
thoughts. We embrace them into our high school
family, mentoring and encouraging their early

with students who are underclassmen, who interest in math and science. In addition, they also
have the urge to learn and experience what is have special permission to join Team 812 in special
like a miniature First Robotics Competition is events such as the Exposition, Kick Off, Pick-
what drives me to continue to mentor in FLL. It Up Game, Scrimmage, and Lock-in. This early
is amazing watching how excited the students experience and special privileges that Team 812
become when they have their LEGO robot creates will enable them to widen and explore their
drive a few inches towards their objective. This interest and make more educated decisions about
exciting experience drives their motivation. Their possible careers in math and science.
motivation is what fuels me.” - Paul Nguyen, a
mentor for one of The Preuss School UCSD FLL
teams for the past two years. Once too impatient
to teach to young students, he plans to continue to
mentor, and now is too impatient to wait for the
next FLL competition.

To contribute to give students an outlet for them

to express their interest in math and science, FLL
members were allowed to participate in the FIRST
Robotics building season. These younger students,
known as “Mini-Midnight Mechanics” were given
hands-on experience in planning, strategizing,
building, and programming. Each Mini-Midnight
Mechanics interned in a group that focuses on a
certain aspect of the robot that they were interested
in, such as arm/appendage, drive train, software,
electrical, and even community outreach. This
specialization will guide the Mini-Midnight
Mechanics into a specific area of interest, which
they can build upon or explore other aspects that
will carry into their respective futures.

The Mini-Midnight Mechanics are able to attend

meetings during the building season and assist
our team in building the robot. This allows them
to further gain understanding and insight into
the enriching experience of construction. Many
find clarity in what they may want to become in
the future- perhaps an engineer, a scientist, or a
researcher. Few still find that they no longer want
to pursue a career in the sciences, but still love and
are fascinated with the technology, and continue

34
 FIRST
lego league
SAN DIEGO COMPETITION

T
eam 812 is responsible for bringing
the FIRST Lego League program
to San Diego. In order to create
an interest among the youth, we host
an informal Annual San Diego County
FIRST Lego League Competition at the
Preuss School UCSD each November.
The event was organized and
coordinated completely by thirteen
to seventeen year-old students on
our team. With thirteen teams in
attendance, the event reached to
over a hundred students, each were
ages seven to fourteen, and taught
the understanding of concepts
such as math, science, and gracious
professionalism.

In order to make such an event

possible, as well as successful, Team
812 dedicated the majority of their

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

time in the planning, managing, and
development aspects of the event.
Team members often stayed late at
school until 10:00 P.M. in order to
finalize the preparations for the event.
Such devotion demonstrates a great
amount of dedication to the cause,
even after two months of constant
coordination. The team was divided
up into subgroups and each subgroup
coordinated a certain aspect of the
competition. The subgroups communicated
with each other by documenting work and
1 - Teacher Walter Solomon with students
reporting, daily, to the PEMP, a student
2 - Referees with team members

35
 leader who acts as the liaison. Each veteran was
partnered with a rookie team member to teach
and to train these newly initiated members in
the “event planning process”. This system worked
very well and did not put all of the responsibilities
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
When FIRST Lego League was first introduced
to San Diego, the FIRST Lego League teams
were working independently and did not know
the benefits of collaboration. Because of our
efforts, we were able to bring the San Diego, and

in the care of the veterans. In addition, rookie neighborhood communities, FIRST Lego League
team members were able to gain insight as to teams together. Through the event, the teams have
the proper etiquette of event planning and are created strong, interpersonal relationships with
knowledgeable to coordinate events, such as the one another and developed friends in which they
San Diego County FIRST Lego League Regional, in are comfortable discussing game
the future. As a whole, Team 812 contributed time, strategies, sharing
energy, and great effort to brought together ideas, and working
a completely student-ran together. Such strong
competition. support between the
With a FIRST Lego League
thoroughly teams has never
structured team, been seen before
the subgroups in the San Diego
were able to area.
manage the entire
planning aspects The event
from obtaining and showed the
maintaining the community
facilities, soliciting that
referees, judges, engineering
volunteers, fields, and
supplies, and all of technology can be
the materials that were exciting and interesting. With every
needed in order to run a local media station at the event, all of San Diego
successful competition. was able to learn more about FIRST Robotics, the
Preuss School UCSD, Team 812, and our mission
Team members arrived early the day of the to bring math, science, and engineering to our
event. While the event begins at one thirty in the underserved communities.
afternoon, many team members arrived on campus
at eight in the morning to help set up the field
and organize the competition environment. The
arena was prepared with this year’s theme: “Ocean
Odyssey.” When the area was prepared, team
members were delegated jobs, jobs in which they
were expected to, and did, perform at the highest
level of excellence. The jobs assigned included:
refereeing, selling food, speaking with sponsors,
presenting to local community members, leaders,
and educators about the FIRST Robotics Program
and our team.
Emcee George Chen talks with teams

36
project
RUBI
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
T
he University of California, San Diego
Machine Perception Laboratory [MPLab]
solicited Team 812 to be a part of Project
Robot Using Bayesian Inference [RUBI]. Project
RUBI is a research project studying artificial
intelligence through human and robot interaction.
Project RUBI works with early child development
centers and University of California students to
conduct their research projects.
We serve as a research subject for the MPLab
and the community outreach portion of their
institution. Our involvement with RUBI allows us
to work with the future UCSD Dynamic Learning
Center [DLC], which is being implemented by
the National Science Foundation. The DLC will
be an active research laboratory studying human
learning and interaction. The DLC will become the
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
epicenter of cognitive research in San Diego.
“the UCSD Dynamic Learning Center, involving
investigators from fields as diverse as cognitive
science, machine learning, robotics, developmental
and perceptual psychology, and neuroscience. The
administrative location of the center will be at the
University of California, San Diego, but there will
be substances participation from investigators at
UCB, Brown, CMU, CU Boulder, Pitt, Rutger, the
Salk Institute, Vanderbilt, Victoria, and Yale.”
-National Science Foundation Grant
“The broader impact of this proposal will be first,
37
 to develop novel training activities in order to
make interdisciplinary research possible; second,
to work with local schools on novel educational
initiatives; and third, with new public outreach
programs. 1) Unlike typical training programs,
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
and intensive training for inner-city high school
students and science teachers. With RTP, the
Midnight Mechanics prepare science teachers for
the classroom and students for college. We act
as the experiment group to launch the first mass

the training activities will be aimed at senior science outreach project directed to inner-city
scientists as well as students and junior scientists; schools.
and they will involve a range of vehicles, including
intensive “bootcamps,” internships, and summer The UC Regents and the UC System commends
(and winter) schools. Our group has considerable our effort in bringing FIRST to San Diego. With
experience with interdisciplinary training these partnerships, we want to provide students in
programs, and we believe we are extremely my community with the opportunities FIRST gave
well-situated to consolidate and build on this us.
experience. 2) The public education part of this
program will be aimed at intake. This will involve
efforts at recruitment of new undergraduate and
graduate students, with the particular goal of
increasing the breadth and diversity of student
population. We will directly involve students at the
Preuss school, UCSD’s 6-12 charter school whose
students are 72% underrepresented minorities, and
90% of their graduating seniors are attending 4
year colleges (22% will attend UCSD).

A second part of the program will be aimed at

outreach. This will involve summer internships
for high school students; intensive workshops for
approximately 80 inner-city high school students
in the Reach for Tomorrow program each summer,
and a summer workshop for high school science
teachers. 3) The Center PIs are committed to
science education and to the dissemination to the
public, in a meaningful and relevant way, the fruits
of our research. The Center will coordinate these
activities with The Science Network, a visionary
venture by a coalition of world-renowned scientists
and media professionals to build a multimedia
programming platform that will be a trusted
destination for those concerned with science and
its impact on society.”
-National Science Foundation Grant

We will be involved with their efforts to bring

students into institutions of higher learning as
part of their Reach for Tomorrow Program [RTP].
RTP provides internships, summer seminars,

38
FIRST
BUDDY
C ATA LY S T F O R C H A N G E

S
ince its
conception in
the fall of 2001,
Team 812 has been
committed to changing
the culture of our
world by starting
with the kids. Most
Midnight Mechanics
did not know the
value of science
and technology
until joining the
team, thus we
are dedicated to
providing children
with all the tools
they might need to
succeed by exposing children to
science and technology. Our mission
is to bring science and technology

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

to the youth, minorities, low income
students, and girls, groups that
compose our team, and give them
the head start that we did not have in
our under served schools. First started
at our own school with tutoring and
mentoring of middle school students, our efforts
to expand our reach have spilled beyond the
bounds of Preuss and to all over San Diego. FIRST
Building Understanding and Determination in
Developing Youth [BUDDY] was born out of these
efforts. Since its conception early this season, we
1 - Reuben H. Fleet Science Center have reached to hundreds of youths through this
2 - Monarch School program by partnering up with Students Actively
3 - Preuss School UCSD Volunteering for You, Volunteer San Diego,

39
 Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Public
Libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Monarch
School. We also peer mentor and hold community
events, such as the UCSD Sally Ride Festival to
instill in these students the seed of FIRST. Our
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
efforts to change the community start with the
youth. Generations later, perhaps some of the
same students will remember us as the catalyst for
changing their lives, and changing the community
around them. That is what Team 812 wants to
remembered for – change and progress – to be
initialized by BUDDY.
T
eam 812 works with Volunteer San Diego
and Students Actively Volunteering for
You to further our endeavor in integrating
math, science, and engineering in the community
VSD
Volunteer San Diego [VSD] is a 501[c]3 nonprofit
organization that helps individuals, families, and
corporate and community groups find volunteer
opportunities at more than 800 diverse service
organizations and schools throughout the county.
Our capacity building programs and services
allow volunteers to work hand-in-hand with
nonprofit agencies to develop strong and vibrant
communities.
Volunteer San Diego volunteers, now 36,000
strong, are at work every day of the year, building
community and meeting critical needs by teaching
children the joy of reading, beautifying our parks
and beaches, preparing meals for our homebound
neighbors, distributing food to low income families
and learning what it means to create positive
change. Last year, Volunteer San Diego volunteers
contributed over 108,000 hours [or $2 million in
people power] to make our community a better
place to live, work and play.
SAVY
Students Actively Volunteering for You [SAVY],
a program of Volunteer San Diego, has been
empowering young people to make a difference in
communities since 1984. Middle and high school
40
students throughout San Diego County have the
opportunity to develop and demonstrate leadership
skills while meeting real community needs.
T
he Reuben H. Fleet Science Center seeks to
inspire life-long learning by furthering the
public’s understanding and enjoyment of
science and technology.
Preuss Robotics students are working with the
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in order to create
a robotics program in their community education
department. In addition, Preuss Robotics students
volunteer weekly at the Reuben H. Fleet Science
Center in order to instill an interest of math,
science, and engineering among the youth.
In addition to the Preuss Robotics students, more
than 100 people currently volunteer at the Reuben
H. Fleet Science Center. Youth (15 and older) and
adult volunteers work in every area of the museum.
Volunteers greet visitors, staff the information
booth, work behind the scenes doing essential daily
jobs such as administrative work and filing, explain
and demonstrate science in the exhibit halls and
serve in a variety of ways at special events. You
don’t need a science background to volunteer at
the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, just interest,
enthusiasm and a desire to give back to the
community.
Volunteers who work in the exhibit halls,
information booth, and as greeters must attend an
information session and will receive training in the
area in which they will work. Volunteers who work
behind-the-scenes are trained on-the-job.
I
n a blunt fashion, Saturday Enrichment
Academy is possibly described as a place for
students on academic probation to receive
help. This is false. Saturday Enrichment Academy
[SEA] is a place offering academic assistance for
students who are in need of help or on academic
probation. However, SEA is not limited to students
in need, but also for students who are experiencing
difficulties in academic subjects or taking on-line
courses, such as On-Line English.
On selected dates throughout the year, SEA is
offered as an opportunity for students in need of
academic assistance. Students who are required to
attend the academy receive a notice beforehand
while though who are interested in attending,
simply sign up with a counselor and/or their
University Preparatory teacher.
At 7:35 AM, students who are traveling from the
El Cajon area are picked up. The travel route stops
at three other sites, all of which are epicenters of
our student population. At approximately 9:00 AM,
students arrive at the Preuss School and promptly
go to their assigned rooms. Sixth through ninth
grade students are admitted in C101 while tenth
to twelfth grade students refer to C102. As the
students enter the door, they receive their schedule
for the day and begin immediately working on
their assignments. At different time intervals, high
school and middle school students are given a ten
minute break from their studies. Students continue
their work until 11:30 AM, when SEA ends.
SEA is not only a place for academically challenge
students but also for students volunteering.
Students volunteer as tutors to assist their fellow
classmates to a better understanding of the areas in
which they find difficulty. This interaction creates
a positive and comforting learning environment.
“It is a great help to have students to mentor
each other. This creates an elaborate learning
environment” quotes Kelly Kovacic, who was
Faculty present at SEA.
Robotics has been frequently participating in
Saturday Enrichment Academy. For the last
few SEA meetings, FIRST Robotics have been
a proactive group, mentoring and tutoring the
middle school and high school students, primarily
on the area of science and mathematics. “It is a
nice habit,” quoted Paul Nguyen, eleventh grade.
Volunteering and being an active part in ones
community is a value nothing can overshadow.
Robotics students are fortunate to have this
opportunity. FIRST Robotics students have the
ability to educate their classmates and aid in
developing them into accomplished individuals.
The feedback Robotics received from the
students was also positive. “It feels good to finally
understand something and Robotics students
helped me a lot” quoted Uyen Tran, seventh grade.
Being proactive in the Preuss community allows
FIRST Robotics students to contribute certain
opportunities often times not offered in the
classroom. “Anytime that there are peers helping
peers, kids are more willing to learn than of they
received help from an adult,” quoted Anne Artz, a
Faculty present at SEA.
T
he San Diego Public Libraries [SDPL]
recognize the Preuss FIRST Robotics
program’s endeavor in reach inner-city
children. The SDPL are dedicated in assisting the
Preuss FIRST Robotics team in our endeavor and
provides many outreach opportunities throughout
the year in order for us to introduce engineering to
children.
However, on a weekly basis, the Preuss FIRST
Robotics team participates in tutoring sessions
at various libraries in San Diego. During these
tutoring sessions, team members assist students
struggling in math and science. It is a student-to-
student interaction.
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
“It was wonderful,” said Antoinette Brou, “I walked
into Beckworth Library with the understanding
that I will be helping a group of children with their
homework and projects and I walked out of that
library as a changed person. I felt, older, for the
lack of a better word. I felt more mature; it was as
though I came of age with a better understanding
and outlook of life and the world around me.”
Antoinette explains her thoughts further when she
discusses what it was that gave her a new “outlook”
on life.
“I sat down with the little boy, he could not have
41
 been older than seven, and he surprised me. If I
was someone walking down the street and glanced
at this little kid, I would have never imagined
that he was a first grader who could not add or
subtract numbers. When I opened his notebook
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
up, I saw recognized the reason why. He did not
understand math because he didn’t pay attention
in class. So instead of solving the problem with
me just teaching him now to add simple numbers,
I talked to him. We discuss why he didn’t pay
attention. He told me that there were distractions
which kept him from concentrating in class. I then
felt as though I was looking into a mirror, whose
reflection was of me many years ago. However, in
the end, I did teach him what one plus one equaled
and all that good stuff.”
In short, Preuss Robotics students reaches out to
children in our community; children whose lives,
as shown, are not much different from our own.
We come from similar financial conditions and
experience similar struggles in school. However,
Preuss Robotics students have experienced
these adversaries and feel as though it is our
responsibility to assist the next generation.
Through peer mentorship, we assist them in
their academic education and alleviate whatever
struggles them have in life.
W
orking with local San Diego Boys and
Girls Clubs, Team 812 brought peer
mentorship and built friendships
with younger students. These children live in
our communities and are, for the most part,
underrepresented minorities who are unaware of
the importance of math and science. We found that
they were as excited as we were to collaborate and
had a real interest for technology and engineering.
By brining FIRST to local San Diego Boys and
Girls Clubs, we were able to integrate others in the
community into our team. Through a short video
demonstration of the building process in FLL and
a demonstration of the Preuss FLL team robot, we
introduced FIRST Lego League to the Boys and
Girls club. We had an immediate and tremendous
42
response from the students. The students submitted
a torrent of questions, comments, and ideas for
constructing a possible robot. Though we have not
yet started the team, we are beginning to prepare
them and give them all an opportunity to be a part
of FIRST. We had an overwhelming interest of girls
that found the FISRT Lego League program to be
very “cute” and something they would like to do.
In addition to bringing FIRST Lego League, we
developed a curriculum for the local Boys and
Girls Clubs to develop a computer literacy program
for the students. Computer literacy is a crucial skill
that is needed in high school, college, and vital in
the business world. Starting from age five to age
ten, students work with us to build basic computer
skills. The curriculum consists of small interactive
workshops, each an hour, on the basic operations
for using Microsoft Office, proper Internet usage,
and typing skills. In the typing skills workshops, we
give students twenty minutes a session to practice
their typing on “Typing Tutor.” We survey them
in order to make sure that they are following the
proper typing behaviors and encourage them
constantly to keep them interested and motivated.
In the Microsoft Office component, we run
through training of the basics of Microsoft Word
and Microsoft Power Point, teaching fundamental
skills, such as text editing and presentation set-
ups. We monitor their progress by giving weekly
quizzes that requires them to change formats or
add in various effects to their documents and
slides.
In the Internet usage component, we go through
proper Internet usage, including searches and
search engines. To tie all aspects of the training,
students, in pairs, will put together a PowerPoint
research presentation on a topic of their choice.
This will show the value of the skills they are
learning and give the kids a tangible outcome of
their hard work.
For older students, ages ten to fourteen, we are
currently developing a curriculum to teach basic
components of Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft
Excel and allow them to experience a more in
depth look into PowerPoint and Word. Our goal
is to expand whatever training they might already
have and put it to use. Similar to the younger
students, older students will complete small
projects using the different tools of Microsoft
Office.
Team 812 students are given the opportunity
to practice their computer skills and learn new
ones as we collaborate with the local Boys and
Girls Clubs. We are also spreading FIRST in our
community by exposing students to the potential
of technology and making brand-new friends in
the process. In addition, we are equipping them
with skills that we, alone, had to develop ourselves
as younger children. As their mentors, their do not
have to struggle through the process, for we are
there with them each step of the way.
Yen Phan, one of the Midnight Mechanics that has
tutored at a Boys and Girls Club almost regularly,
says, “Just last weekend, I was able to teach a
student how to use Microsoft Word for the first
time. She wrote her first five sentence paragraph
for her homework assignment. I gained satisfaction
when her mother, who I later found out never
finished secondary school, approached me and
thanked me for teaching her daughter the skills
that she could not.”
As many people are technologically-illiterate and
would appreciate any help, without being looked
down upon, we are at these Boys and Girls Clubs
to lend any help. Midnight Mechanics members all
are individuals who have overcome their personal
trials, and can connect to these people on the same
level. Difficulties that plague these young students,
weathered beyond their years, many of us have
also faced. Now that many careers demand these
technical skills as basic requirements, Team 812
has found it important to impart such knowledge
to the younger community that is not given the
opportunity to learn.
When tutoring at these organizations, we
appreciate our luck in being a part of the FIRST
community, as well as a part of a school that
nurture us to be successful. Any of the Team 812
members could have easily been at a Boys and
Girls club, eager to learn Microsoft Word, and here
we are, despite everything, changing perspectives,
helping those that were not lucky enough to have
these same opportunities. While our students learn
these basic skills and anything useful we could
possibly teach, we learn about these individuals.
We welcome these same students into our Team
812 community, introduce them to the newly-
opened prospects, and guide them to apply their
latest skills. Then only can we feel satisfaction.
O
n February 12th, 2006, a group of female
students from the Preuss FIRST Robotics
team went to UCSD for the day to interact
with female middle school students that are
interested in math and science through the UCSD
Sally Ride festival. At the UCSD Sally Ride Festival,
Sally Ride made an inspirational speech regarding
her struggles in a society that demeaned women
in engineering and we were there to provide
information at a booth and be presenters through
workshops. Participants at the festival would sign
up for our workshops and be able to stop by our
booth.
In addition to the Midnight Mechanics, other
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
organizations, who were trying to inspire female
middle school students, enhanced the experience
for students through their hands-on activities
stationed at their booths. We went to many of
the booths, which were mainly businesses or
professional organizations, to talk to them about
becoming involved in FIRST and if they would
like to attend the Annual San Diego Pick-Up
Game the following weekend. Whether in FIRST
Robotics, VEX, or FIRST Lego League, some of
these organizations could become very influential
in girls’ lives. At the booth, we answered questions,
initiated conversations with parents and students,
and passed out flyers to the Annual San Diego
Pick-Up Game and team buttons.
43

The workshop we conducted, which was called
“From Towers to Robots: If We can Build It, You
Can Too!” introduced the female participants
to the design method and FIRST Robotics. The
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
workshop ran twice, with two different groups of
girls. It was touching to see how other girls were
so enthusiastic when we told them about the
Annual San Diego Pick-Up Game next weekend.
Our PowerPoint presentation also included an
animation video of the current robotics game to
introduce them to the idea of robotics. We also
paralleled what the straw towers they were building
with the robotics design process we went through.
Some of them really seemed set on engineering,
and many seemed interested even if they had
originally pursued some other science, or not
interested at all in robotics initially.
Impact on the girls that attended our workshops or
talked to us could never be measured numerically.
When one sees the inspiration in their eyes, that is
what confirms that we, mere high school students,
affected their perception of math and science- that
it is okay to show an interest in such subjects, in
fact, encouraged.
It is a marvelous change from a dominantly-
male field, to one that girls are more involved
in. Perhaps a decade or two from now, we will
see one of the girls to go to Mars, another to
develop a Nobel-Prize winning theory, or build
robots that dramatically change disabled persons’
lifestyles, and exclaim, “I talked to her about math
and science!” Our participation in this festival
embodies our mission to change lives, change
culture in our own backyard.
T
he Monarch School located in Downtown,
San Diego, offers homeless children and
teens a place to receive a good education
and a source to of acquiring basic necessities. The
Monarch School takes the initiative to not only
educate, but provide basic needs such as food,
clothes, and hygiene tools as long as they are in
school. This school funded by gracious donations
44
is an indispensable asset in changing the culture
of the time by giving those that are least likely to
succeed a chance. Despite all efforts, the students
of the Monarch School still are “last in line” when
educational opportunities are being provided.
All coming from disadvantaged backgrounds,
the Midnight Mechanics feel an overwhelming
familiarity with this situation, and have a need to
share our good fortune as FIRST participants with
Monarch School students.
We have begun to create an open network between
the Preuss School and the Monarch School in
which we wish to open a path of success for
Monarch students by bringing FIRST.
Composed of approximately a hundred students
ranging from ages six to eighteen the Monarch
School is the perfect environment for both Lego
and VEX Robotics. To begin to interest younger
students in robotics, we will establish a FLL team at
the Monarch School. Getting the younger students
started in FIRST create a basic foundation for
possibly a future FRC team at the Monarch School.
Mentored by the student Midnight Mechanics,
Monarch students will receive the same title of
Mini Mechanics that the FLL teams at Preuss
receive. The collaboration between the Midnight
Mechanics mentors and young Monarch students
is meant to not only provide Monarch students
with an FIRST veteran’s point of view, but a role
model figure that faced many of the same struggles
and still succeeded.
VEX Robotics for older Monarch students, gives
them the jump start into FIRST with out them
having to deal with costly parts and machinery.
The lesser cost of VEX is perfect for this small,
blossoming school. We are working with UCSD to
attempt to open the resources that the Midnight
Mechanics have at UCSD to Monarch students so
they can have access to college mentors, machining
shops, funding, internships, and over all support.
We are committed to give the Monarch School all
the opportunities and aid that we have been lucky
enough to receive.
team
san diego
SAN DIEGO COALITION

“T
eam 812 is the eldest team
in San Diego and we have
taken the leadership role to
recruit more teams in the county. The Team
San Diego Robotics Forum consists of a
collection of ten teams from primarily the San
Diego County area. This forum works together
in an effort to bring the FIRST ideals to not
only Southern California, but across the
border as well. Schools and communities
that were not positively exposed to
math & science are now changed by the
community created by our Team San
Diego. Working together to change
others’ perspectives
of technology, Team San Diego has
a mission to continue the Midnight
Mechanics’ legacy of introducing
FIRST to more schools and lives.
Team San Diego works together
to both host a variety of robotics

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

events in the San Diego area and
to support each other in the
building of our robots. This web
of collaboration between the teams
enables both students and adults to
work cooperatively towards a common
goal.”
-Paul Tran

Team San Diego was formed in 2003

1 - Team San Diego Preship
Pickup Game
2 & 3 - Team San Diego Regional Kickoff
under the leadership of Team 812. Being
the oldest team in the county, we took a
prominent role in the formation and success
of this coalition. Currently, Team San Diego

45
 is comprised of ten award winning FIRST teams.
The teams work together in order to build a high
regard for math and science in their under served
communities. They collaborate on presentations
and a series of events that are hosted.
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
A strong bond that is created between all of the
teams leads to a cooperative environment. Ideas
and concerns are shared between the teams.
Through this partnership, the teams have been
able to succeed inside and outside of FIRST. Under
our leadership, teams from the Team San Diego
coalition have won the All-Star Rookie Award for
three consecutive years at the Southern California
Regional and last year at Arizona. Teams have
also won the Las Vegas Regional, the Engineering
Inspiration Regional Award, Safety Award,
Daimler-Chrysler Team Spirit Award, Johnson and
Johnson Sportsmanship Award, and the Perkins
Entrepreneurship Award.
Team 812, along with the Team San Diego
coalition, is working with local businesses and
community members to gain support for a new
San Diego Regional in the near future. The success
that the Team San Diego coalition is having in our
community is immense.
T
eam San Diego does active recruitment,
rather than just showing off their robots.
Team 812, among other teams, invite
community members and prospective schools to
be involved in FIRST and Team San Diego.
The San Diego FIRST Exposition was established
in order to educated prospective community
members, leaders, educators, and students about
the FIRST Robotics Program, Team San Diego, and
integrating engineering education.
The following is an account of the San Diego
FIRST Exposition from a students perspective:
“When we arrived at the San Diego FIRST
Exposition, the team was still setting up. The
playing field was being reconstructed for the
46
mock competition and signs were being posted.
Mr. Mainieri told me to help with any of the
preparation needed for the event. Therefore, I
followed the team members to put up signs. We
placed the “Welcome” and “FIRST Robotics” signs,
along with the “Arrows” around Madison High.
Once the signs were up, we came back to Mr.
Mainieri for any other jobs that were needed to be
done.
Mr. Mainieri stated that there would be sponsors
coming to the event. Therefore, we needed people
who were familiar with FIRST and Team San Diego
to greet them, at the door, and welcome them
into our program. Veterans took the job. They
were responsible for delivering a presentation to
the prospective sponsors about FIRST, Team San
Diego, and our impact on the community. Being
articulate, I was assigned to greet prospective
FIRST Robotics members at the gate and show
them to the Exposition.
Then afterwards, when the amount of guests
arriving started to die down, we went to the mock
competition area and watched the robots perform.
Being novice to the world of Robotics, I wanted to
be able to experience its applications. So I asked
Julian Hernandez and Thien Nguyen if I could have
a try at attempting to drive the robot. They gave me
their consent.
The robot was not that difficult to maneuver. It
took some time, and like everything else, you have
to practice to become efficient at it. I was able to
take a turn at driving the robot and moving the
arm up and down. At the end of my trial, I had
three tetras on the frame. It was an interesting
experience because the robot would make sudden
movements if you didn’t control the joystick or the
handle on the arm would fall off. Minute issues
that, I realize, in competition, could determine a
victory or loss. Many of the teams had their robots
out on the field. The people driving the robot
did so with such skill and grace that it impelled
me to practice even more so. The game was self
explanatory.”
T
he San Diego FIRST Robotics Kick-off is
the fruit of several years of recruiting teams
and finding a secure location to keep the
game veiled until the moment came. With the
help of Team San Diego, but led by Team 812,
the San Diego FIRST Robotics Kick-off became
an official Kick-off on Saturday, January 7, 2006.
On the campus of High Tech High,
San Diego,
teams from San
Diego County
congregated
to discover
what this years
challenge would
be. In addition to
viewing the pre-
recorded broadcast,
participants were
invited to a series
of brain storming
activities and team
building exercises lead by
Team 812 student leaders.
After receiving the kit of parts, we had a part
cataloging session with team veterans leading. The
session was designed to help rookie teams and
interested individuals to become familiar with their
kit of parts.
Pre planning and strategizing has made all
the difference for Team 812 in the past, and
emphasizing that it is a crucial part of the design
process was one of our main goals for the Kick-off.
In small groups we began to think of what are the
best strategies of attack and defense. As a larger
group we decided on main goals that each robot
would like to achieve.
Veteran mentors gave an orientation to new
and inexperienced mentors on what being part
of a FRC team is like. Rule analysis of the new
game, potential of Team San Diego, and further
strategizing where also discussed.
The Kick- off serves as a first glimpse of FIRST for
rookie teams and gives them the opportunity to
have questions and concerns addressed.
To involve potential schools in FIRST, we contacted
and invited every school in San Diego and Orange
County. Our dedication to spreading
FIRST goes beyond.
T
eam San Diego,
under the leadership
of Team 812, hosted
the Second Annual San
Diego County Lock-in and
Scrimmage. Approximately
twenty teams from
California, Arizona,
and Nevada attended to
compete in an informal
post-season FIRST
competition.
The day started with teams preparing up the
playing field similar to those at the actual
competitions. The event took placed at Madison
High School. Many teams had arrived earlier the
previous day to take part in our Annual San Diego
County Lock-In event.
At the Lock-In event, teams participating in the
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
Scrimmage had the opportunity to socialize with
other FIRST Robotics teams. Hosted at Madison
High School, Team 812 members coordinated the
event. Coordination includes the creation of signs,
robot preparations, presentations and listing an
inventory of available necessities [i.e. toiletries,
sleeping bags, etc.] that are unavailable for our
participants. Team 812 robotics members are
responsible for the preparation of the competition
environment. Preparation includes setting up the
playing field for the competition.
Entertainment included a LAN party in which
Pre-Ship Pickup Game
47
 members could bring their own laptop, or use
Madison’s school computer, to participate in
“Counterstrike,” an online game. The members are
able to use internet in that room only. While most
members stayed up all night to participate in this
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
Veterans trained rookies that are newly initiated
in the team. Training included teaching the
rookie members the driving and arms and lifts
components of the robot while other teams

event, others choose to participate in other forms
of entertainment. Over all, the Lock-In established
an atmosphere for team members to socialize
with one another and/or develop interpersonal
relationships with other FIRST teams.
compete. They were able to experience the tension,
pressure, and excitement that come with being
on a multinational robotics competition team.
Most importantly, the rookie members learn the
collaboration skills and the art of communication.

Many teams also Not only was the Scrimmage is an

arrived the day of opportunity for FIRST teams
the Scrimmage. to show off
Team 812 members their hard
began to organize work, it
and set up the was also
area for the a chance
public, media, for the
and community San Diego
leaders. Community
Decorations to experience
were prepared a FIRST
with competition.
inspirational Many
quotes as members of
well as the community
informative were in
signs. Food attendance
concessions containing salsa, chips, including science
candy, soda, donuts, along with muffins, which teachers visiting
were all donated by Team San Diego parents and from Los Angeles area.
members, were open to provide steady revenue for The San Diego Community also had the chance
Team San Diego teams. to experience FIRST when many media outlets
televised the competition and wrote about the
The Scrimmage was similar to an actual event.
competition. The Scrimmage consisted of practice
rounds, qualifying rounds, alliance selections, and “The Scrimmage was a great way for me to learn
finals. Judges and referees were present to regulate what Robotics is about. I feel the excitement and
the game. There was a room for any repairs needed the feeling of being part of something great. By
to be done. Teams were able to share resources going to the Scrimmage I developed many new
and states advices, showing the quintessence of skills and a new level of comprehension.”-Melody
gracious professionalism. During the battles music Nguyen
were played to entertain the guests and to lighten
the mood. This friendly competition was a great Team 812 students help the Team San Diego events
way to bring closure to the season.

48
FIRST
STEPS
TEENS FOR TOMORROW
P
reuss FIRST Robotics students have witness
our teammates, despite their situation,
achieve their dreams. By reaching out to the
next generation of Preuss students, they motivated
us with their accomplishments and their stories.
Our success as individuals today, is a direct result
of their mentorship, gracious professionalism,
and service. Now, being given access to a path
towards success, we recognize that it is pivotal
to reach out to children; children whose lives are
not much different from our own. We provide
our communities the resources that we were not
fortunate to have access to when we were younger.
As a result, these children do not have to face the
struggles that Preuss Robotics students had to
experience.
The Midnight Mechanics initiated the FIRST
STEPS [Students Together for Education and
Promotion of Science] Program to matriculate
students into a math, science, and engineering
profession. Our team made partnerships with the
University of California, San Diego, San Diego
State University, University of California Education
System COSMOS Program, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology MITES Program, NASA National
Science Research Institute, Temple University
Physician Scientist Training Program, John
Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, WPI Girls in
Math and Science to make our program the first
successful scholarship and internship program in
the West.
The FIRST STEPS program launches a mass
outreach program targeted towards inner-city
students. Team 812 coordinates community events,
specifically informative conferences, in which
educates and advocates scholarship and internship
programs. During these conferences Team 812
holds workshops on informing the community
about the scholarship, how to fill out applications,
alumni experience, and how to integrate
engineering education and FIRST Robotics in
inner-city high schools.
Our involvement with scholarship and internship
foundations is exemplary. Our partners are
involved with every step of the coordination
process. They speak at our conferences and support
us by providing both financial and educational
support.
FIRST STEPS is supported by engineering
corporations and community members. We have
possible sponsorship from David Evans and
Associates Inc., Grice, Lund and Tarkington Inc.,
and Kids Korps USA underway. Upon hearing
ANNUAL REPORT | 2006
about our FIRST STEPS program, they are very
excited in becoming involved with FIRST Robotics,
Team 812 and our endeavors in bringing math,
science, and engineering into the community.
49
 executive
summary
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

SEASON 2005-2006

1] Briefly describe the impact of

the FIRST program on team
participants:
After participating in FIRST, team members
pursue math and science within and
beyond the classroom.70% of students
enroll in a calculus class or higher and
100% are enrolled in an AP science
course. They participate in programs
like COMOS, MITES, and UCSD
Medical and Science Internships. 80%
of our alumni have chosen a math
or science major. Preuss Robotics
students share their success by being
mentors their underserved communities and
bringing others into FIRST.

2] Examples of role model

From top:
1 - Team 812 at VSD We Care Fair presenting the relationship
characteristics for other teams to
emulate:
Team 812 leads Team San Diego [TSD], a
coalition of San Diego FIRST teams. As the
founding team, we demonstrate leadership
by providing training sessions, access to
resources, monthly meetings, and assistance
to TSD teams. We participated in outreach
events, such as the UCSD Sally Ride Festival to
inspire young women. We were honored for our
work by receiving the All-Star Rookie Award,
Judges Awards, Regional and Championship
Engineering Inspiration Awards, and Regional
Chairman’s Award.

3]
between art and robotics Describe the impact of the FIRST
2 - Programming team stares with awe at the robot
program on your team and community:

50
Because of FIRST, Preuss participates in Project community by provide the team financial support.
Lead the Way, which provides an engineering The UCSD Machine Perception Lab solicited us
curriculum. Students at our school are able to to work with RUBI, a project studying artificial
look into engineering as a possible career. Our intelligence. They provide mentors who
FIRST STEPS Program matriculates aid the team with valuable knowledge
students into math and experience while gaining fresh
and science input.
by educating
them about
scholarship-
internship
6] Team’s communication and
result:
Our team consists of subgroups,
opportunities. each with an officer, which
Our partnership communicate and complete
with UC tasks efficiently. In addition,
COSMOS, JHU we have implemented a
CTY, MIT MITES, FIRST Robotics class into
NASA NSBRI, PSTP, the Preuss curriculum. This
and WPI GEMS class allows team time
makes FIRST STEPS during school to work on
Program the first FIRST related assignments.
successful scholarship- Through weekly meetings,
internship program in the online documentation,
West. journals, record sheets, list
serves, websites, forums,

4] Team’s innovative
methods to
spread the FIRST
and newsletters, our team
establishes an exemplary
communication environment.
message:
Our team completed over 3,000 hours of
community outreach projects. Our FIRST BUDDY
Program, partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs, judges, if any:
7] Other matters of
interests to the FIRST

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Sally Ride, San
Diego Public Libraries, SAVY, SEA, UCSD, and
VSD, addresses the need for peer mentorship. We
started VEX teams with the Monarch School, a
school for homeless teenagers. We communicate
our program through our webpage and newsletters.
Our mission is to help disadvantaged students in
our community while spreading FIRST.
The Preuss School UCSD is a 6 – 12 grade charter
school for low-income, first generation university
bound students. Preuss students travel up to four
hours a day to have access to the rigorous college
preparatory program and compulsory AP courses
that Preuss provides. Because of FIRST, every
student has the opportunity to take multiples
classes in robotics in engineering. 100% of FIRST
graduates attend a 4 yr university in comparison to

5] Describe the strength of your partnership:

Our team has developed a strong partnership
with the Annenberg Foundation, General Motors,
the district average of about 35%.

From top:
1 - Team 812 presentes FIRST Robotics to prospective
Northrop Grumman, the Preuss Foundation, supportors
Qualcomm, the San Diego County Fair, and 2 - Team 812’s innovative sign depicting the discipline “Robots
SPAWAR. Our sponsors become involved with the and Art”

51
 chairman’s
award
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

SUBMISSION 2006

F
our months ago, I sent off my last college
application. Standing in front of the post
office, I recalled I was the child who was not
supposed to go to college; the latch-key kid who
called the inner-city my home. FIRST has guided
me through the path of success to where I stand
today. With my college acceptance letters in hand,
I have surpassed society’s expectations. I have
become the catalyst for change in my community.

Though I am just one member of Team 812, the

legacy of the Midnight Mechanics is embodied in
those who have gone through the program. We
strive for a common goal: showing the potential of
math and science in our community through peer
mentorship. We are ‘kids teaching kids.’

The Preuss School UCSD is a 6 – 12 grade charter

school for low-income, first generation university
bound students. We are students that need an
extra helping hand. FIRST Robotics enhanced
the Preuss experience with academic and social
opportunities that are rarely available in our
underserved communities. FIRST gave us
the opportunity to explore math and science
within and beyond the classroom by teaching
the importance of business, mentorship,
community outreach, and gracious
professionalism. 100% of FIRST alumni
are attending a four year university, three times as
many as the San Diego district average.

From top: The Midnight Mechanics lobbied for school-wide

1 - Summer Puente and Vu Hong work on electronics
2 - Team 812 receives their kit of parts at the Team San Diego engineering education. Now every student at
Kickoff Preuss will take at least one course in engineering
3 - Students work with mentors on the drive train or robotics by graduation day. Because of FIRST,

52
 CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL Statewide
PREUSS AP EXAMS
San Diego County
EXIT EXAM PASS RATE* Preuss School TAKEN, BY SUBJECT
*Out of one sitting
100
100 93 US History
Spanish Lit
80
65 66 Spanish Lang
63 63
60 European His
English Lang
40
Art History
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
20
Class of 2002-2003
0
ENGLISH MATH

PREUSS CLASS OF 2004

INTENT TO REGISTER* 20%
*OUT OF 100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE

University of California 43.6%

Community Colleges 20% Data from:
California State University California Department
16.4% of Education
Private Colleges CREATE, UCSD

our team members now understand what
engineering is. As a result, we can make educated,
thoughtful decisions about whether engineering is
what that we want to do.
The new FIRST Robotics class teaches us project
management skills that are not taught anywhere
else. With our knowledge we make Team 812
training sessions on the building and outreach
aspects of FIRST. Working together, we plan
several events to bring FIRST to the spotlight. We
recruit for the new season by introducing FIRST at
the San Diego Exposition, an informational session
for rookies. The San Diego Kick-Off starts the
building season with a broadcast of the new game
and a brainstorming session. The Annual Team San

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

a student run business. To keep members
up-to-date, we communicate through online
documentation, journals, and record sheets.
Our PEMP [Pneumatics, Electrical, Mechanical,
Programming], a student leader, is a liaison for our
subgroups. Qualcomm sees our team as a model
of a successful engineering corporation, and is
“grateful for the opportunity to further the goals of
the FIRST Robotics team at Preuss.”
Our team’s success prompted us to pioneer FIRST
in San Diego. We helped to establish all ten of the
San Diego teams and lead the Team San Diego
coalition. Team San Diego teams benefit from each
other by sharing resources and assistance. We offer
Diego Pick-Up Game, a pre-ship competition, gives
students, public, and local media the experience
of an actual competition. The San Diego Robotics
Lock-In and Scrimmage wraps up the season with
teams from California, Arizona, and Nevada. Team
San Diego events have made FIRST participation
county-wide. Though we are opponents on the
field, we know the benefits of collaboration and
gracious professionalism. Under our mentorship,
San Diego teams have won All-Star-Rookie awards
every year. This year we have gone beyond San
Diego and added an El Centro team in Imperial
County. Our ultimate effort with Team San Diego
is to bring a regional to the San Diego area. San
Diego Union Tribune says, “Preuss School is trying

53
 to spread the gospel of robotics to other high students
schools so a regional division of 20 teams can be and science
established in San Diego County.” Our effort has teachers to
allowed thousands of individuals in the San Diego prepare for the
and surrounding areas experience FIRST. classroom and
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

college. We are
Our influential participation with FIRST has the experiment
brought mentorship from FIRST alumni at UCSD group to launch
and involvement in projects on campus. The UCSD the first mass
Machine Perception Laboratory [MPLab] supports science outreach
our team with facilities and mentors. MPLab project directed to
requested our help with Project RUBI [Robot inner-city schools. Project RUBI
Using Bayesian Inference], a research project Opportunities like
studying artificial intelligence through child/robot DLC, made available through FIRST, have given us
interaction. Our students not only build parts for the tools to impact our community the way FIRST
RUBI, including a chassis, but also provide input impacted us.
for the project. Our work with RUBI connects us
with the future UCSD Dynamic Learning Center The Midnight Mechanics know how difficult it is
[DLC], an active research laboratory studying to succeed without the adequate resources. We
human learning. We are vital in their efforts to have spent over 3,000 hours bringing FIRST and
bring students into institutions of higher learning its ideals to our communities. Our team has seen
as part of their Reach for Tomorrow Program that peer mentoring is extremely successful, and
which provides internships, summer seminars, in response established FIRST BUDDY [Building
and intensive training for inner-city high school Understanding and Determination in Developing

PREUSS SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

BY RACE/ETHNICITY 2002-2003

LEGEND
Asian
White
African American
Latino
Filipino
SAN DIEGO COUNTY Pacific Islander
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
BY RACE/ETHNICITY,
2002-2003

54
Youth], where
we aid students Midnight Mechanics: Making links across the country
in underserved
neighborhoods by
providing resources
and mentorship.
We spend 15 hours WPI GEMS

a week tutoring MIT MITES

Stanford
struggling math and Temple PSTP

science students JHU CTY

UC COSMOS
at San Diego
Public Libraries
and Saturday
Enrichment
Academy. With
the Boys and Girls NASA NSBRI
Clubs, we work
with children as
young as six years Team 812

old, teaching
computer skills
for Microsoft Mentored Teams
Office and Internet
Explorer needed
in school. We FIRST to homeless children. By participating in
teach the importance of technology by bringing the VEX program, students from the Monarch
it to them at an early age and give them the School will discover science and technology by
technological advantage we never had. going through the design process. Our goal is to
make our resources such as mentors, internships
Reaching out to individuals that would be the and science programs, freely available to the
least likely to engage in math, science, and Monarch School and eventually welcome them into

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

technology, we have partnered with the Team San Diego with a FRC team. Students at the
Monarch School to bring Monarch School know how to overcome barriers
and working with the Midnight Mechanics we will
overcome them together.

Now composing more than half of our team,

Rose Cao and Kyle Norquist
mentor one of the two Preuss FLL teams.
girls on our team have had to overcome one of
the biggest barriers in engineering: gender. To
encourage the next generation of female engineers,
girls from our team shared their experience of
FIRST Robotics with hundreds of middle school
girls at the UCSD Sally Ride Festival. Through
a workshop on engineering, “From Towers
to Robots: If We Can Build It You Can Too,”
participants worked through the engineering

55
 design process by building a tower of tape and
straws. The girls gained an insight to FIRST
Robotics as our team discussed how being part of
FIRST has impacted our lives.
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812
COSMOS, MIT MITES, NASA NSBRI, Temple
University PSTP, JHU CTY, and WPI GEMS will
make us the first successful outreach program that
allows for more individuals to look at a future in
math and science.

We have supported budding FRC participants by

mentoring two FIRST Lego League teams, the For those that hold a negative outlook on math
Mini Mechanics, at Preuss for the past four years. and science, we improve perceptions of science
Community members and engineering companies and technology by presenting them in a new
such as SPAWAR and Scripps Institute came to light. Through Students Actively Volunteering for
congratulate the thirteen teams that participated in You [SAVY] and Volunteer San Diego we access
this year’s Annual San Diego FLL Competition ran events such as the San Diego We Care Fair. Our
by our team. We focused on promoting gracious team presented engineering as a versatile subject,
professionalism amongst FLL participants through demonstrating the role that technology plays
demonstrations throughout the day. We invited in art. At the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center,
every elementary school in San Diego county to team members are involved in interactive science
attend and learn about FLL. education. As information ambassadors at the
science center, we guide the younger visitors with
In our efforts to make science activities more hands-on science activities. We have had such a
accessible to students all over San Diego, Team 812 success that the science center is working with us
implemented FIRST STEPS [Students Together to institute a robotics education program. We even
for Education and Promotion of Science] to bring FIRST to day-care centers by
involve students in science summer programs. teaching children
Our partnership with UC how to construct
Lego robots. Our
Tech Training
Program will
involve teaching
students how to
build computers
and have
them teach
others in the
community.
Making
science and
technology
available to
everyone
allows us to
ultimately
spread
FIRST.

The 2005-2006 Preuss Robotics team at the Team San Diego Kickoff

56
Coming into the FIRST program, with little more
than a dream, we have been given access to a
path towards success. We understand the pivotal
importance of sharing FIRST with other students
like us. I am proud to be part of a team whose
legacy lives in my community.

Because of FIRST, I hold my college acceptance

letter in hand. I have risen above the expectations
of society. I have witnessed FIRST transform lives
as I helped other kids like me on their way to
college. I know that it has impacted their lives as
it has influenced mine. With my 812 shirt in my
luggage and memories in my heart, I will continue
our legacy of success in college.

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

57
58
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

Regional

Mentored
Teams (2)

812
Lock In Off-Season Competition
Robotics Expo
Kickoff Event
FIRST BUDDY FIRST STEPS Mentors Preuss UCSD Sponsors Preship Pick up Game
MPLab Regional Organization
Tutoring
-RUBI Team Support
-SEA
-NSF New Team Expo
-Math
National Mentoring
-Science
San Diego Science
Fundraising Foundation
Public Libraries Potluck
MPLab -Dynamic
Project Lead Learning
Machine
Perception Lab
the Way Center
-Reach for
Tomorrow
SEA Cal(IT)2
Saturday Enrichment Academy PSTP
Physician Scientist Training Program Mentors
At Home Tutoring
SAVY NSBRI
Students Actively Volunteering National Science Biomedical
for You Research Institute
Volunteer San Diego Preuss Foundation
We Care Fair
Community Events
Sally Ride
Computer Building
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Principal’s Reception
We cordially invite you to

2007
SAN DIEGO REGIONAL

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

Date and
location TBA

59
 glossary
MIDNIGHT MECHANICS | FIRST TEAM 812

OF ACRONYMS
FIRST BUDDY- Building Understanding and Determination in Developing Youth

FIRST STEPS- Students Together for Education and Promotion of Science

SEA-Saturday Enrichment Academy

SAVY- Students Actively Volunteering for You

VSD- Volunteer San Diego

PSTP- Physician Scientist Training Program

NASA NSBRI- National Science Biometrical Research Institute

MP Lab- Machine Perception Laboratory

RUBI-Robot Using Bayesian Interface

NSF- Nation Science Foundation

DLC- Dynamic Learning Center

WPI GEMS- Worcester Polytechnic Institute Girls in Engineering, Math and Science

JH CTY- John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

MIT MITES- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science

60
 812

ANNUAL REPORT | 2006

midnight
mechanics
WWW.MIDNIGHTMECHANICS.OR G 61